BREAKING: Akron safety Kerry Martin Jr. commits to NC State
NC State football landed a commitment from top priority transfer portal target Kerry Martin Jr. Wednesday morning. The Akron safety will join the Wolfpack this summer with one season of eligibility remaining.
Martin began his NC State official visit Tuesday and quickly shut down his recruitment. He had plenty of longstanding connections to the program. Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson recruited him to West Virginia.
“Not only is it a prestigious program as far as their history, but they are also a top defense in the country,” Martin told TheWolfpacker.com going into his official visit. “And also, I have a great relationship with the defensive coordinator, Tony Gibson.”
The safety recorded 45 total tackles as a senior with Akron, finishing the year with 2 interceptions, 6 pass breakups and a sack. Martin played the majority of his snaps at free safety but lined up all over the Zips’ formation, seeing the field for 588 total snaps.
He signed with West Virginia out of high school and enrolled early in Jan. 2019. Gibson left for Raleigh just a couple of weeks later. Loyalty is very important to the safety from Charleston, West Virginia, and he views his chance to reunite with the Pack defensive coordinator as an opportunity to finish what they started with the Mountaineers. Former Wolfpack cornerback Derrek Pitts Jr. is Martin’s cousin.
“Loyalty means a lot more than some other things,” Martin said. “Relationships are definitely important.”
The defensive back also held an offer from Michigan State and a handful of other Division-I programs.
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Martin’s college career started at an electric pace. He recorded 50 total tackles and 5 defended passes as a true freshman at West Virginia, starting 4 of the final 6 games. The first year defensive back matched up against NC State in week 3 of the 2019 season, and he recorded 5 solo tackles and a defended pass.
Pro Football Focus named him a third team freshman All American after his debut campaign. He did not play during the 2020 Covid-shortened season before appearing in 3 games and entering the transfer portal in 2021.
After transferring to Akron, he started 18 contests over the next two seasons. He recorded a career-high 53 total tackles and intercepted 1 pass in 2022. The senior followed that up with his standout senior that ended in All-MAC third team recognition.
He entered the transfer portal in January. On3 ranked him as the No. 43 safety in the transfer portal with an 87 rating.
